Live Auction Tuesday, October 30, 2007 at 10AM:
30. Civil War Pvt. William H. Trombly Handwritten ALS, Moving
Col. Elmer Ellsworth’s Remains, June 16, 1861
Three-page handwritten and signed letter by Private William H. Trombly,
addressed to his family at home. In it he mentions seeing the remains of Colonel
Ellsworth, the first officer to die in the Civil War, as they were brought to
Albany Station. Ellsworth would receive a posthumous Medal of Honor for his
actions. Trombly promises to send Ellsworth’s portrait “in this letter if it is
not too heavy,” though it is not present with this lot.
The rest of the letter reports on life in the Albany Barracks, how well he is
doing, how much he likes his superiors, and how he doesn’t ‘want for anything’ -
not even postage stamps.
Interestingly - if not potentially dangerous from a military point of view, is a
passage about a swearing-in ceremony for ten companies that were to be combined
with Trombly’s.
We was not leagly bound until now. The ten companies which was considered quite
an honor to him. Some few of them refused to swear in those were laughed at and
drummed out of the barracks. The soldiers has to behave well hear. They cannot
get any liquer to drink and them that does not do right they put in the guard
house and keep them on bread and water…One regiment leaves for Washington to
morrow and another Tuesday. I heard are our regiment would have to leave before
twenty days for Staten Island we will be glad to get started not because we
expect to get better fare, but we like to keep moving…We do not drill very
regular when it rain or when it is warm. We don’t drill for the last three days,
we only drilled half an hour in the afternoon at 5 o clock which lasts half an
hour.
Two handwritten sheets; first sheet verso and recto, second verso.
Condition Report: Excellent
Size: 9.3 x 7.3 in. (23.6 x 18.5 cm.)
Provenance: War Between the States Memorabilia
Estimate: $250 - 500
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